Preliminary
Design
Expert Response
Dear NASA,
We have made many revisions to our Pro Gardener Robot. Our robot is
designed to assist the astronauts raise plants in a microgravity environment.
Changes
to our Robot
We moved the seed packets to inside the storage compartment. Also located
inside this storage compartment is a rechargeable battery, the probes
used to measure and record plant chamber temperature, humidity and light.
The robot carries its own environmental sensors used to calibrate sensors
in the growing chamber; these sensors are stored in the storage compartment.
We have added a computer to our robot. The computer will log important
data from the plant chamber as well as allow astronauts and NASA Ground
Crews to communicate with the robot. The thermister used for measuring
and recording temperature is located next to the glass panel. We moved
the tools from the top to the bottom of the storage compartment. Velcro
fastens the tools to the robot.
Additions
We‚ve added a camera/eye to the robot as a visual sensor. This
camera/eye can see 360 degrees. We replaced the watering can with an
electrical plug. This plug will hook into the recharge panel on the
ISS. The hose will hook into the water storage tank on the ISS and may
be used to water plants when necessary.
Arms
We changed the design of the arms to allow for more flexibility; the
arms now have five joints. Both arms may reach all of the instruments
on the robot. When one of the arms is holding an instrument, it will
replace that instrument before picking up another.
Moving
via Suction Cups
We added a new feature to explain how our robot moves with the suction
cups. The robot will suck air in to form a vacuum, which will cause
the suction cups to hold fast. When the robot needs to move, it will
release the pressure on one suction cup at a time and creep up the wall
or floor of the plant chamber. When in it‚s new position it will
again form a vacuum.
